Edie Falco

An outstanding cast member on one of the most highly acclaimed television series of all time, "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2007), Edie Falco earned multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards for creating the...
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Each year, the Screen Actor's Guild, the biggest acting union in Hollywood, throws its two cents into the awards ring and bestows upon actors in both film and television with the coveted statues for excellence in performance. It's a top honor that's also a major predictor for the Academy Awards — in the past three years, the SAG Awards replicated the winners of the Oscars Best Actor categories in all but one category (in 2011, when Viola Davis in The Help bested Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady before losing to her come Oscar time). The SAG Awards are award to the year's biggest win.
This Tuesday, SAG announced their nominations for the 19th year of their awards ceremony. Once again, every actor and film looks primed for the Academy Awards. Lincoln and Les Misérables lead the pack thanks to buzzy performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Anne Hathaway, while Breaking Bad and Mad Men once again earn nods on the TV side.
Check out the full list of nominations. The awards are set to air on Jan. 27, 2013 on TBS:
Outstanding Performance by a Cast
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis,Lincoln
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Denzel Washington, Flight
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem Skyfall
Robert De Niro Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble
Amazing Spider Man
Bourne Legacy
The Dark Knight Rises
Les Miserables
Skyfall
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Homeland
Mad Men
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damien Lewis, Homeland
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
The Office
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock30 Rock
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Louis CK, Louie
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway &amp; Gellhorn
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Charlotte Rambling, Restless
Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals
Alfie Woodard, Steel Magnolias
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Kevin Costner, Hatfields and McCoys
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Ed Harris, Game Change
Clive Owen, Hemingway &amp; Gellhorn
Bill Paxton, Hatfields and McCoys
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Sons of Anarcy
The Walking Dead
Follow Matt Patches on Twitter @misterpatches
[Photo Credit: Walt Disney Pictures]
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“Having it all” — the theme that has pervaded through all seven seasons of 30 Rock, an idea that has its claws deeply embedded in the heart and mind of Liz Lemon. Professionally, she’s living out her dream… a dark, mediocre, panic-inducing dream though it may be. But personally, Liz has always been left wanting. Recent years on 30 Rock have given Liz a stable, attentive, good-hearted boyfriend (the frequently absent James Marsden) and the opportunity to have a child, something of which she has always longed. But even with all things clicking on the home side of things, this latest episode of 30 Rock forces Liz to admit something: she can’t have it all. She can’t have the perfect personal life and still remain in her demanding position of employ. And when Liz does grow horror stricken with this realization at the end of the latest installment, it provokes the following reaction:
Why the hell not?
Tina Fey, star and creator of 30 Rock, has served culturally as a role model for women since the inception of her fame. Her comedy, her acting, her book Bossypants have all encouraged a strong female identity, the overthrow of the male domination over the ideas of stardom and success.
On this week’s ep, Liz undergoes foot surgery that renders her incapacitated during the taping of TGS, forced to take care of herself instead of overseeing shooting. As you can imagine, everything goes awry — the nefarious Hazel dupes Liz in order to cast herself on TGS, and the writers refuse to rewrite their sketches once production calls for a massive change in content. Once Liz realizes all the problems that face her program, she rushes from the comfort of her office down to set, effectively destroying her bandaged feet in favor of her show. The message: she can’t both work her strenuous job and take care of a family.
30 Rock has dealt Jack Donaghy his share of personal follies, sure. One might recall a similar issue striking Jack in a Season 2 story arc involving his relationship with Congresswoman C.C. Cunningham (Edie Falco). Both parties couldn’t tear themselves away from their jobs long enough to make their romance work, dealing Jack the same fate that has absconded with poor Liz: he had to choose between the professional and the personal.
But that was different! That wasn’t the conclusive story arc. That was when Jack was still struggling with his own identity, when we were to expect him to undergo problems that would, in time, transform via character growth. But this is Liz’s final chapter — if we’re meant to believe that she will, in fact, choose between work and a family, it seems to diminish the plight that Tina and Liz have upheld as long as the public has known them. Liz, simply in being, is an embodiment of the feministic plight, even in storylines not overtly tied to feminism. As such, why is she — the most capable, intelligent person on the show — forced to struggle with this kind of problem, when nobody else (Jack, Tracy, Jenna) seems to?
On the other side of things this week, Tracy’s Tyler Perry aspirations come to full fruition when he releases a movie featuring his beloved Aunt Phatso character (a Madea parody), which slots a character based on Jack as the villain. Not much comes of this, but it’s funny to see Jack and Tracy engage in a battle of wits and wills over the big screen incarnation of the executive.
And Jenna, shedding her monstrosity to show a little humanity (far preferable to the villainous side we see too often), tries to wedge her way between the blindsided Kenneth and his evil girlfriend Hazel. After accusations are made that Hazel is just using Kenneth to find out information about the TGS staff, the enamored Kenneth grows furious, pronouncing himself no longer friends with Jenna, Liz (who fires Hazel at the end of the episode following her stunt to get on the show), and everyone else by association. Dead by his hand? The fate looms…
I might very well be jumping the gun about the Liz sitaution. Maybe in weeks to come, Liz will realize she can indeed “have it all.” If she is destined by the sitcom gods to start a family with Criss (Marsden), then maybe she and he will endure a harmonious home life while she continues to thrive on the insanity at NBC. Or maybe, if we are forced to see Liz choose, she’ll at least pick work — her one true passion, with which she has stuck beyond all else. We’ll have to see what awaits Liz… as long as she doesn’t get out of the biz and find herself much “happier” as one half of a romantic pair, then we can call it moreover a satisfactory ending.
[Photo Credit: Ali Goldstein/NBC (2)]
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I have mixed feelings about the direction 30 Rock seems to be taking its final season. The show has always embraced an element of the political — in the second season, Jack’s romantic relationship with Vermont Senator C.C. Cunningham (Edie Falco) was complicated by his conservative standpoints and her liberal politics. Liz herself has been vocal about her left-leaning positions. Tracy voted for Nader. Bearing that in mind, it's not completely out of the show's wheelhouse to devote a story arc this year to the presidential election. However, it does seem like it is taking valuable time away from getting Liz and Jack to their long awaited story conclusions.
Two weeks back, Liz opted to sell her politics down the river by allowing Tracy to continue performing sketches as the fictional Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Gov. Dunston. Although initially created as a critical satire of the candidate, the TGS skits inadvertently ended up helping his campaign by humanizing the vile governor with a stature of comedic affability. Despite this revelation, Liz continued running the sketches due to the resultant ratings hike they afforded her show (which, incidentally, played a significant role in bolstering her sex life with boyfriend Criss). But this week, Liz is once again adhering to her convictions. She accompanies Jack to a political fundraiser, where he uses the reliably loudmouthed Liz to provoke on-the-fence Republicans to endorse the Romney campaign. Following this, Liz fights back by demanding more politically-biting sketches from her writing staff, and occasionally paying Jack a visit to bicker about the merit of her political ideals versus his, and the power of words and ideas versus that of money. They even both snag celebrity reps to win over the public: Jack pays off Don Cheadle to pose as a Romney supporter to win the black vote, and Liz brings on a truly hilarious, marshmallow-eating Kellan Lutz to attract young voters. It's all business as usual, really.
But then, an interesting revelation that will carry over into the next episode:
Liz and Jack both dive headfirst into an analysis of America's' presumed voting direction. Jack and his team of rich Romney supporters determine the undisputed eventual vote of each state via whatever secret resources and files of research they have at their disposal. Liz relies on another, equally reliable source: Tracy Jordan, who has done stand-up all across the country and can therefore determine unquestionably how each region will vote, based on the reactions he has gotten from audiences. For example: "North Carolina is not on board with a black man lecturing them," Tracy tells Liz. "I don't care if it's Obama talking about healthcare, or me talking about white butts. They are different than black butts." Scientific stuff. In the universe of 30 Rock, this will hold up in court.
But despite the expertise of Jack and Tracy alike, they both admit to the impossibility of determining the voting direction of one specific region in the United States: the Florida Panhandle. Combining the notorious unpredictability of Florida's voting direction in real life and the oddball sense of reality that 30 Rock has created for itself, the show goes into an in-depth breakdown of the state's demographic. Seeing Florida as comprised of "the Cubans of the south — very conservative," as Tracy explains, adding that he has "had a lot of expensive cigars put out on [him] in Miami comedy clubs," and the "Jewish retirees, serial killers, and secretly-gay Disney princes," of Central Florida, "all of whom love Obama," Jack affirms, the leaning of the state falls in the hands of the unpredictable Panhandlers: "elderly shut-ins, beach bums, bus passengers who ran out of money, swamp people, and pirates." Tracy sums it up: "These people don't like to be told what to do. They just want to sit on the beach and drink. Their motto is unwindulax." And that is where the revelation comes in.
See, Jenna Maroney (herself a Panhandle native) has become a goddess to the natives of northern Florida, thanks to her hit single "Catching Crabs in Paradise," which has won her the favor and dedicated following (literally, they're all parked outside the GE Building in this episode, getting drunk and unwindulaxing) of the populace—among them are characters played by Gary Cole and Amy Sedaris. These people love Jenna, and will do whatever she says. As such: cliffhanger!
Who will get to Jenna first? How will she use this unparalleled power to her advantage? Will anyone notice that this is the exact plotline of the Kevin Costner movie Swing Vote?
As said above, I'm not sold on the debate taking up such a larger presence in the final season. I want to see more character examination of Liz and Jack, individually and as a longtime rivalry-turned-best friendship (work husband/uncle and coworker/little brother, if you want to pigeonhole the relationship). Hopefully, this faceoff will work toward saying something about their insuperable need for one another.
[Photo Credit: Ali Goldstein/NBC]
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It must be something in the wind... the Santa Anas have officially arrived, bringing with them a gust of guest spots and network deals galore. See for yourself, and take cover!
Gary Cole Shakes up the Veep: Next season on Veep, Selina Meyer might need to come in on a Saturday. Gary Cole has joined the cast for as many as 8 out of 10 episodes as a Karl Rove-like figure named Kent. Real life Karl Rove? Not so funny. Gary Cole's interpretation of Karl Rove? We're betting on hilarious. [Deadline]
Chicago's Fire is Still Burning: Any fire that features a shirtless Taylor Kinney should not be put out. At least that's what NBC decided when it ordered five more scripts for its freshman drama Chicago Fire, after a hefty ratings jump last night. The show was up 20 percent from last Wednesday, giving the Chicago hotties plenty of news to feel good about. Good enough to start removing random articles of clothing, we'd say. Pics, or it never happened. [Deadline]
Chazz Palminteri Goes Blue: He's on a roll! After some prime guest spots on Rizzoli &amp; Isles and Modern Family, Chazz Palmintieri will guest again on CBS' Friday night hit Blue Bloods, as the city's top mob lawyer. Apparently, Palmintieri's character has a long history with Tom Selleck's Frank Reagan. That's all she wrote for now, but you'll find out more when the episode airs next January. [EW]
Nurse Jackie Gets a Lover: No, it's not prescription pills. Edie Falco's recovering addict Jackie will have a new love interest next season, in the form of Rescue Me vet Adam Ferrera. Ferrera will play an NYPD officer, and he'll recur throughout the fifth season of Showtime's dramedy hit. Hmm, wonder how a cop would feel about some of Jackie's former extracurricular activities? [TVLine]
Revenge Makes Another Investment: Season 2 of Revenge has already featured a plethora of special guests, and it looks like this trend will definitely continue. 24 and Parenthood alum Joaquim de Almeida will guest star during the hit drama's ninth episode, where he'll play a wealthy Grayson Global investor named Salvador Grobet. Let's start placing our bets — will Salvador piss off, or help out Emily Thorne? [THR]
Eva Longoria Gets More Love From Universal: Looks like one former housewife isn't desperate to work in front of the camera. Eva Longoria, who is currently teamed up with Universal Television for the upcoming dating show Ready for Love, has signed a first-look development deal with the studio that includes a non-writing, executive producer agreement with her production company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment. Can't wait to see what she cooks up next! [EW]
SpikeTV Offers $10 Million for Bigfoot: I just can't with this. SpikeTV is offering up $10 million to anyone who can prove that the legendary Sasquatch Bigfoot exists. The network's latest reality show — 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty — will feature teams on a quest to find Bigfoot, and the winner *might* walk away with 10 million dollars... if Bigfoot doesn't kill them first! Just kidding, no one is going to win that money. But a group of scientists, zoologists, seasoned trackers, and “actual Bigfoot hunters” will try their best. Your move, TLC. [EW]
Follow Shaunna on Twitter @HWShaunna
[PHOTO CREDIT: DailyCeleb.com]
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Television fans are a unique set. We're the type of people who devote hours upon hours a week to our fictional, televised friends. We laugh at their jokes and cry when they cry because our favorite shows are just so darn good. But the intensity of the laughter and the tears is all thanks to the fact that we regard these characters as something of a family. We know them. We understand them. We love them unconditionally. And actors deserve recognition for being able to elicit that level of a reaction from their fans. Naturally, when they're not given their due, we're forced to react, well, emotionally. How, exactly, will we react? That depends on the actor in question.Next up is the funniest Vice President ever to grace the small screen: Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Fourteen years after the end of Seinfeld, people still talk about the "Seinfeld Curse," the otherworldly force that prevents any castmember from the long-running sitcom from ever succeeding again. Michael Richards only made it seven episodes into The Michael Richards Show. Jason Alexander's sports-themed Listen Up bowed out after one season. Jerry Seinfeld's Marriage Ref... well, let's not even go there. Then there's Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who starred in five seasons and 188 episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine and is still under the cloud of critics barking about the "Seinfeld Curse." The real stipulation is even stricter than one might have imagined: a Seinfeld player's new show has to be on par with Seinfeld.
Hope was all but lost until HBO's Veep, a ferocious comedy that miraculously kept Louis-Dreyfus post-Seinfeld momentum going. The network-friendly humor of New Adventures (that was still above and beyond its contemporaries thanks to Louis-Dreyfus' lively persona) is nowhere to be found in Veep, an off-the-cuff, raunchy workplace comedy from Armando Iannucci, the writer/director behind the political satire In the Loop. If Seinfeld dabbled in dark humor, Veep is pitch black. There's no topic or jab too aberrant for the writers of Veep. And Louis-Dreyfus always plays ball. The show is a curse-breaker, but only because the actress owns it.
What separates Louis-Dreyfus from every other TV actress on screen is that her vice president persona, Selina Meyer, is basically unlikable. That's the stress of the job taking over combined with her own insecurities. Meyer is a failed presidential candidate; has been completely closed out of the loop from the sitting president, and is surrounded by staff of complete imbeciles (who are merely knuckleheads serving the government equivalent of a chicken with its head cut off). We can understand why Selina acts the way she does at times — who wouldn't feel a little emotionally distraught if the career-breakig endorsement you're chasing continues to flip flop? — but often we're cringing (and laughing) as Selina's attempts to dictate orders and show confidence.
With her gravitas for physical humor and willingness to skim the line of all out bitchery, Louis-Dreyfus has crafted a daring character on Veep that you simply won't find elsewhere. She does show shades of compassion: her ongoing secret relationship with political staffer Ted opens the door for adorable flirting. But in true Veep fashion, those moments can often be followed by jaw-dropping flippancy. One episode caps with Selina learning she's pregnant. The epic life moment is nixed by the opening of the next episode, Selina her informing her staff she's had a miscarriage ("I mean, it was like a heavy period.”). That's not an easy bit to make funny.
Louis-Dreyfus has some heavy competition, with returning nominees (Amy Poehler, Edie Falco), winners (Tina Fey, Melissa McCarthy) and beloved new faces (Zooey Deschanel, Lena Dunham). But, please, Emmy voters. Let's make it clear once and for all that the "Seinfeld Curse" has been dispelled by a truly audacious performance. Because if you don't, I'm going to have to stage a hunger strike protest on the lawn of the White House.
Don't ask me how I'm going to get on the lawn of the White House and survive for more than a few minutes — I just will. Because it's important. Also don't ask me why I'm deciding to protest on the White House lawn instead of the United States Naval Observatory lawn where the vice president actually lives. I need coverage. I'm thinking like a real advocate. When I'm staging my protest in the name of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, I'll be sure to use every trick in the Veep book. I'll land myself airtime on all the major 24-news channels; I'll vaguely side with every vocal lobbyist group to gain more traction (but, of course, backstab them last minute for my own agenda). I'm for Obama and Romney when it comes to my protest — whatever gets Louis-Dreyfus that statue. And no, I'm not bathing or shaving. If you don't grant the Veep star a win, Emmy voters, you'll be staring at a modern version of Tom Cruise's Born on the Fourth of July character for as long as my Cheetos supply will last. That's a long time. Vote Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Best Actress in a Comedy. She's the candidate you deserve.
[Photo Credit: HBO]
Follow Matt Patches on Twitter @misterpatches
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Almost 3,000 people lost their lives in the atrocity on 11 September, 2001 and bosses at financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald now hold an annual charity event to raise funds for good causes after two-thirds of their workforce perished in the North Tower of World Trade Center.
On Tuesday, famous faces took to the trading floor to man the phones, with profits from every transaction going to the charity of their choice.
Rapper 50 Cent, who was among the participants and manned the phones for three hours, tells New York Post gossip column Page Six, "I am honoured to come and be a part of this... I try to promote conscious capitalism and to connect my business to giving back so (other artists) see the example and follow."
Tennis star Venus Williams and Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte also took part, along with American football star Victor Cruz, whose father was one of the firefighters called to Ground Zero on the day of the attacks.
The New York charity drive raised more than $12 million (£7.5 million) and the good work continued across the Atlantic in Britain at the offices of Cantor Fitzgerald's sister company BGC Partners in London's Canary Wharf.
Leona Lewis, Joan Collins, Sir Roger Moore and Richard E. Grant took part in the London leg, along with singer Sophie Ellis Bextor, Formula 1 ace Lewis Hamilton, British royal Princess Beatrice and her mother Sarah Ferguson, and Olympians Mo Farah and Dani King.

Oh, the Emmys. These awards can be so crazy and unpredictable! Haha. Just kidding. That was a joke. The Emmys is sort of like a high school prom — the theme changes slightly every year and there is a different king and queen, but it's always the same party with the same streamers in the same gymnasium. That said, who would ever miss their prom?!
Certainly not me, but it does make discerning who is going to be Prom King and Queen — oh, sorry, Best Actor and Actress — kind of easy. And, just like in high school, the person holding the scepter isn't always the one who is most deserving. So, in anticipation of the Awards on Sunday, Sept. 23, here are my picks for who will win... and who should win. I didn't pick a Miss Congeniality, because we all know it would go to Heather Locklear anyway.
Best Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Mad Men
Will Win: Breaking Bad: The long reign of Mad Men will probably be coming to an end after four consecutive wins and the Academy will most likely reward this other critic's darling, which has a lot more punch and pizazz that voters usually like. That's what being on meth will do to ya! That is, unless these two AMC shows cannibalize each other's votes and we get another winner.
Should Win: Homeland: What this race really needed was some new blood... and there was no show bloodier than the first season of this Showtime hit. Not only was it twisty and unpredictable, it also had amazing performances and told a story that comments on the world we live in now, even a decade after 9/11.
Best Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Girls
Modern Family
30 Rock
Veep
Will Win: Modern Family: There is no doubt, this is everyone's favorite comedy. Even Ann Romney likes it! Even as it ages, there is no beating this crowd-pleaser.
Should Win: Girls: I was very skeptical of this HBO comedy when it started and I still can't stand most of the characters that populate Lena Dunham's Brooklyn, but that doesn't mean this show shouldn't be recognized. The season ended up being smart, funny, touching, insightful, and speaking to an audience that is otherwise ignored. This is one of those shows that, looking back, will be hailed as a watershed, and not just because it had a girl running through the streets on crack. Though that does help.
Best Leading Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Will Win: Bryan Cranston: He's won every year he's been eligible and with good reason. Walter White is an absolute monster and it takes someone with the skill of Cranston to turn in a nuanced performance without turning him into another hammy version of Scarface. It leaves us all asking, "Malcolm in the where now?"
Should Win: Damian Lewis: Speaking of nuanced monsters, did you catch the range of emotions Lewis had to go through as a POW who may also be a secret terrorist? And he's not even an American. Does he get extra credit for the great Mid-Atlantic accent (and the shirtless scenes)?
Best Leading Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louis C.K., Louie
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Who Will Win: Louis CK: Wow, most of these nominees are staler than the bag of Bugles that fat Betty Draper left under the couch. Mr. CK ('cause he's nasty) is the only one doing anything exciting or original these days. This will be the ultimate consolation prize for his show not winning any other awards.
Who Should Win: None of these other jokers.
Best Leading Actress in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Who Will Win: Claire Danes: Can you say no to Angela Chase, especially with that head of preternaturally shiny hair? (It's so shiny!) But Danes did earn every vote as a trouble plagued CIA analyst who will do anything to stop a man she thinks is a terrorist. Including cussing more than a sailor who stubbed his toe.
Who Should Win: Elisabeth Moss: Another season and another great turn for Peggy Olson, especially with her arc allowing her to come into her own and leave Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce. What does this girl gotta do to win an award?
Best Leading Actress in a Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike &amp; Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks &amp; Recreation
Who Will and Should Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus: The Academy loves to reward a veteran and, as the only Seinfeld survivor to go on to a successful TV career, Louis-Dreyfus is definitely a vet. But it was her turn as this simultaneously harried and charismatic Vice President that makes her actually deserve this award. Her reading a PSA script from a teleprompter was done as a bit to run with the closing credits, but it was one of the funniest minutes of comedy on the air last year.
Best Miniseries or Movie
American Horror Story
Game Change
Hatfields &amp; McCoys
Hemingway &amp; Gellhorn
Luther
Sherlock
Who Will Win: American Horror Story: Ryan Murphy scared the bejesus out of all of us. No, it wasn't because of the frights in this horror story, but because the show did everything a TV show shouldn't do: It had a storyline that only lasted one season, it kill off the leads, and it honed a talented acting troupe for seasons to come. His risk should pay off for the ultimate reward. No, I don't mean he'll be visited by a guy in a gimp suit (though he might like that).
Who Should Win: Hatfields &amp; McCoys: I'm still not entirely convinced that AHS is a miniseries or movie or if it should be competing in the Best Drama category. If it's not a miniseries, then the statue should go to this crowd-pleaser, which not only brought back the genre as we used to know it, but proved it could be a gigantic hit.
Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Clive Owen, Hemingway &amp; Gellhorn
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)
Idris Elba, Luther
Kevin Costner, Hatfields &amp; McCoys
Bill Paxton, Hatfields &amp; McCoys
Who Will Win: Kevin Costner: The miniseries or movie categories were basically invented so that the Emmys could get movie stars to attend. And it does this with the promise of gold. It probably won't be any different this year than last year when Kate Winslet won.
Who Should Win: Idris Elba: Call it the Revenge of Stringer Bell.
Best Leading Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Connie Britton, American Horror Story
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway &amp; Gellhorn
Emma Thompson, The Song of Lunch (Masterpiece)
Ashley Judd, Missing
Who Will and Should Win: Julianne Moore: With four movie stars in this category, poor Connie Britton (who is quite deserving in her own right) doesn't stand a chance. While Kidman may be the bigger star, it's Moore's stunning transformation into Sarah Palin that should rivet voters. We can almost see her winning from our house.
Best Reality Competition
The Amazing Race
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
So You Think You Can Dance
Top Chef
The Voice
Who Will Win: Amazing Race: Ugh, again! When will it end?
Who Should Win: Anyone else: Amazing Race has been a snooze since the Bush Administration, but Academy voters don't know any other shows and think an around the world vacation with their significant other sure looks fun. That's why they keep voting for this. Enough! There are plenty of reality shows on TV — choose someone else! I would go with The Voice, for being the only show to shake up the singing competition formula with any real results.
Best Reality Host
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With The Stars
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Betty White, Betty White's Off Their Rockers
Who Will Win: Betty White: The Academy thinks she needs one more trophy before her retirement (or something worse). Also, they have absolutely no respect for the reality categories. For shame!
Who Should Win: Cat Deeley: If you do not think this leggy Brit who is as quick with a punchline as she is with a compassionate shoulder for contestants to cry on doesn't deserve to win, then you are an idiot with no eyes. There, I said it. Speaking of no eyes, she also chooses all her own outfits and they are often – how should I put this? – unique. We need her to show up on stage wearing one.
Best Variety Program
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Real Time with Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
Who Will Win: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: I just got off the phone with 2018 and it's still going to win then too. Just accept it.
Who Should Win: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: You have to appreciate the daffy way he creates viral videos with everything from Barack Obama to the Real Housewives franchise. This is a man who knows that the future of the genre is as much on YouTube as it is on the boob tube.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
Brendan Coyle, Downton Abbey
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Jared Harris, Mad Men
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Who Will and Should Win: Giancarlo Esposito: One of the most terrifying villains on television didn't yell and scream and shoot up the place. He took over with quiet determination and a calm exterior that belied a deadly inner life. Esposito's Gus Fring was a study in self-restraint and his end will go down in TV history.
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Who Will and Should Win: Christina Hendricks: She's long been known for the curves of her body, but this season, it was the curveballs her character threw when she decided to kick out her husband, take her destiny in her own hands, and finally get herself on equal footing with the men (of course, only by making a horrible sacrifice). She's made her portrayal of one of the most complicated women on TV look absolutely easy, so it's about time she had a busty gold lady of her own.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ed O'Neill, Modern Family
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Max Greenfield, New Girl
Who Will Win: Someone from Modern Family: Just pick one. Does it matter. Maybe Ed O'Neill. Is it his turn yet? Fine, then Ty Burrell. Whatever.
Who Should Win: Max Greenfield: It's a hard job stealing a show called The New Girl while having a Y chromosome, but Greenfield's fully-realized Schmidt was the character who audiences really wanted to see, even as they knew he should be stuffing $10s into the douche jar.
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Who Will Win: Mayim Bialik: Since the boys will be shut out in the acting category, it looks like good old Blossom's work as one of this show's girl geeks is going to get some deserved attention. But look for a possible Kristen Wiig upset for her final season on SNL.
Who Should Win: Merritt Wever: She's long been the funniest thing on Nurse Jackie and she should finally get some recognition for a character that is just on the right side of wacky and vulnerable when she needs to be. If she doesn't get nominated more often, the Academy is on more drugs than Jackie.
Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Sarah Paulson, Game Change
Frances Conroy, American Horror Story
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Judy Davis, Page Eight (Masterpiece)
Mare Winningham, Hatfields &amp; McCoys
Who Will and Should Win: Jessica Lange: There is no one we'd rather watch chew the scenery and destroy lives with a syrupy southern accent than Ms. Jessica Lange. Also, remember the rule about giving these trophies to movie stars?
Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Ed Harris, Game Change
Denis O'Hare, American Horror Story
David Strathairn, Hemingway &amp; Gellhorn
Martin Freeman, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)
Tom Berenger, Hatfields &amp; McCoys
Who Will Win: Ed Harris: I honestly have no idea on this one, but the fact that Ed Harris has been nominated for an Oscar and is competing in a category for movie stars makes him the best bet. Who Should Win: Denis O'Hare: Between Larry Harvey and his Russell Edgington on True Blood, this hard-working character actor finally deserves to scare up a trophy. Scare up. Get it? Follow Brian Moylan on Twitter @BrianJMoylan [Photo Credit: Wenn] More: 2012 Emmy Awards: See the Full List of Nominees! Emmys 2012: 10 Burning Questions! Emmys 2012: Snubs, Shockers and Surprises!

Showtime President of Entertainment David Nevins took the TCA stage Monday afternoon in Beverly Hills to spill some desperately needed details on all your favorite shows. And because we love you oh-so much, Hollywood.com has gathered all the facts and put them into one giant Showtime mega-post! You’re welcome.
So what’s the status on Dexter? How many more seasons of Homeland can we expect to cherish? And will we see additional episodes of Californication and Inside Comedy? Check out all the updates below!
The Big C: The Showtime Exec revealed that Laura Linney and Co. are coming back for a fourth season, but it will also be the show’s last. You can check out all the details on the cancer themed drama’s final season here!
The Borgias: Showtime’s period drama is currently shooting their third season (set to premiere in 2013) and Nevins says a another season is very likely. He explains, “The original plan going in was four seasons.” However, Nevins clarified that just because the plan was four doesn’t mean the head honcho wont green-light a fifth.
Californication: How much longer can fans expect to see Californication on the air? Nevins admits, “I’m honestly not sure.” He says the upcoming season has a great combination of comedy and soulfulness, but he hasn't seen any cuts yet. Luckily, he won't make any decisions until the show has aired.
Dexter: The Showtime Prez confirmed that ending the cult-hit after two more seasons is "the likely scenario." Nevins reveals, "But plans can always change. Everything has gotten rewired this [coming season] given that Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) has to deal with who her brother is. Everything changes… Every scene is fraught because you’re wondering what is she going to do. What does he think she’s going to do." The seventh season of Dexter premiere Sunday, September 30 at 9 p.m.
Episodes: It would be shocking to not see this critically acclaimed hit return for a third season and apparently Nevins thinks so too. “We’re working on the details right now but I’m expecting Episodes to come back,” said Nevins. “I think that show is irregular as opposed to some of your other shows… [And] we tend to be a little slower to get them on the air, but my intention is to keep going.” Plus, Matt LeBlanc exclusively told us that a mini Friends reunion is all set on an upcoming episode.
Homeland: After boasting to the room that Homeland won a Golden Globe for Best Drama, nine Emmy nominations and a Peabody, Nevins says that the future of the freshman mega-hit is a “wide blue sky.” Although he expects the show to last for many seasons, Nevins warns that does not mean that the core cast will last just as long. “Anybody can go at anytime,” said Nevins. "They’ve made some very bold choices this year." The second season of Homeland premiere Sunday, September 30 at 10 p.m.
House of Lies: Like Homeland, Nevins is expecting this raunchy comedy to become one of the network’s new flagship shows. He says the network is expecting the first-year hit to be “big” in 2013.
Inside Comedy: It’s back and better than ever! David Steinberg and Steve Carell’s comedy documentary is returning this fall with ten all-new episodes. Fans can expect to see comedy legends such as Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell and Albert Brooks.
Nurse Jackie: Nevins didn’t really mention anything about Edie Falco or the rest of her amazing ensemble, but he did however praise the dramedy’s “great benefits” of changing things up and not avoiding consequences. "You better not fall into predictable patterns. As soon as you get predictable, you get boring."
Shameless: The dramedy with America’s favorite dysfunctional family is currently filming their third season — episode four, to be exact. Stay tuned, because Hollywood.com has tons of exclusive Season 3 scoop from Emmy Rossum (Fiona), Shanola Hampton (Veronica) and Cameron Monaghan (Ian) coming soon. Here’s a little teaser: “Shameless season three is epic,” exclaimed Hampton at the CBS/CW/Showtime party Sunday night. “And we are not holding back at all!”
Weeds: Nevins admits that he has read the final episode of the long-time comedy but would not disclose any teasers. He admits with a smile, “[Creator] Jenji [Kohan] would kill me if I gave any details.” However the Showtime boss adds, "It was very carefully planned towards," and it “answers a lot of questions.” Nevins also said he would “love it” if Mary-Lousie Parker would return to Showtime as either an actor or a producer. Plus, we got Hunter Parrish to tell us an exclusive secret!
[Image Credit: Showtime]
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More:
Comic-Con 2012: 'Dexter' Gang Explains How the Tables Have Turned
Showtime Will End 'The Big C' After Fourth Season
Exclusive! 'Weeds' Hunk Hunter Parrish Spills a Big Secret

Nominated for the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Broadway debut replacing Wendy Makkena as Terry in "Side Man"

Film debut in Hal Hartley's "The Unbelievable Truth"

Featured in the John Sayles drama "Sunshine State"

Guest-starred in three episodes of "30 Rock" (NBC)

Co-starred on Broadway in "The House of Blue Leaves," with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Jason Leigh; earned a Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Made brief appearance in Ferrara's "The Funeral"

Acted in "The Vagina Monologues" in London

Originated the role of the alcoholic mother in Warren Leight's semi-autobiographical play "Side Man"

Played title role in the independent feature "Judy Berlin"; directed by Purchase classmate Eric Mendelsohn (released theatrically in 2000)

Starred in the crime-themed comedy "Layin' Low"

Raised in Islip, New York

Had featured role as prison guard Diane Wittlesey in the HBO drama "Oz"

Had recurring role as the wife of a blinded police officer on NBC's acclaimed drama "Homicide: Life on the Street"

Won the Los Angeles AFI Film Festival Best Actress award for her performance in "Cost of Living"

Cast in "Freedomland," a drama based on Richard Price's acclaimed novel of the same name and directed by Joe Roth

Featured in James Mangold's "Cop Land"

Reteamed with Hartley for a memorable turn in "Trust"

Portrayed Mafia wife Carmela Soprano in the acclaimed HBO series "The Sopranos"

Returned to the NYC stage opposite Stanley Tucci in "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune"

Starred in "Side Man" at the CSC Theater in New York; was unable to recreate role when it moved to the Roundabout Theater

Reprised stage role in "Side Man" in the London production, co-starring Jason Priestley

Summary

An outstanding cast member on one of the most highly acclaimed television series of all time, "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2007), Edie Falco earned multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards for creating the iconic Carmela Soprano, a suburban New Jersey mother and conflicted wife of an organized crime boss. Prior to her powerhouse portrayal of the Mafia don's manicured wife, Falco had appeared regularly on the gritty prison series "Oz" (HBO, 1997-99) and police dramas including "Law &amp; Order" (NBC, 1990-2010) and "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC, 1993-99), where she displayed a naturalistic acting style that was world-weary and independent, yet vulnerable. Hardly an overnight sensation, the actress had spent over a dozen years as a player in the independent films of Hal Hartley and Nick Gomez and appeared on countless New York stages. Unlike her lower profile co-stars from "The Sopranos," Falco stayed in the spotlight, taking on the lead role of "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime, 2009- ), a dark comedy centered on a brilliant, but drug-addicted emergency room nurse that once again put her back into awards contention and allowed Falco to demonstrate her considerable acting prowess.

Began a brief affair in 2003 after co-starring in "Frankie and Johnny" on Broadway; Tucci left his wife for Falco, but the couple split in 2004

Education

Name

State University of New York at Purchase

Northport High School

Notes

Falco on juggling her career while still maintaining a separate home life: "Early on, I got pretty consumed by [roles] to the point where it got dangerous. But I learned in time that it's not the noblest thing in the world to lose yourself in the character. It's my job to know who I am in that role and how she does that she does and where it ends." - quoted in Newsday, April 1, 1999

"She's an actress who's unadorned by any embroidery. She does everything with such simplicity and honesty, it's breathtaking." - Tom Fontana, executive producer and writer of "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Oz" on Falco to Entertainment Weekly, Jan. 15, 1999

"It's a little nerve-racking to be getting all this mail and everybody thinking I'm this overnight sensation. I've been working for 15 years now!" - Falco quoted in Newsday, April 1, 1999

In 2004, Edie Falco was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was treated successfully.